Gate latch



April 24, 1956 2,743,125

L. A. WAGNER GATE LATCH Filed June 12, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig./

L ouis A Wagner I IN V EN TOR.

April 24, 1956 Filed June 12, 1953 L. A. WAGN ER GATE LATCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ouis A Wagner IN V EN TOR.

with the lower ends of the guide pulleys 40 and have engaged therewith hooks 56 carried by free ends of the flexible member 48.

Carried by the shaft 44 is a suitable handle 54 to facilitate rotation of the shaft 44 and the associated reel 46. When it is desired to fasten the gate 16 in a tensioned state, the hooks 56 are associated with the eyes 54 and the reel 46 rotated to short the affected length of the flexible member 48. This results in the pulling of the end of member 20 towards to latch post 14 with the resultant tensioning of both flexible member 43 and the wire portion of the gate 16 to properly position the gate 16.

In order that both the flexible member 48 and the gate 16 may be retained in their tensioned states, the reel 46 is provided with a latch which is best illustrated in Figure 4. Carried by the inner side of one of the members 32 adjacent the reel 46 is a pin 56 which has mounted thereon in eccentric relation a cam disc 58. The cam disc 58 is adapted to clamp and engage the reel 46 and is provided with a handle 60 to facilitate setting of the same.

When it is desired to open the gate 16, the lock for the reel 46 is released and the handle 54 turned in an opposite direction from that required to tension the flexible member 48 so as to permit the slacking of the flexible member 48. After the flexible member 48 has been slacked, the hooks 56 are removed from the associated eyes 54 and the gate 16 is then free to be moved to an open position.

Referring now to Figure 2 in particular, it will be seen that carried by one of the members 32 on the outer surface thereof is a supporting bracket 62. The supporting bracket 62 is intended to receive the handle 54 when not in use so as to prevent the accidential rotation of the reel 46 by an animal.

Referring now to Figure 6 in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated a modified mounting structure for the support 30. The latch post is in the form of a metallic latch post, such as the latch post 64, there may be provided additional mounting brackets 66 which are U- shaped. The mounting brackets 66 may be provided with clamping bolts 68 to facilitate their clamping to the metallic latch post 64. The mounting bracket 66 is connected to the mounting bracket 34 the support 30 by a hinge connection 70 which facilitates the pivoting of the support 30 with respect to mounting brackets 66.

In view of the foregoing, we see that there has been illustrated and described a simple gate construction which includes an extremely simple latch construction which facilitates the proper positioning of a flexible gate. Not only is the gate construction of such a nature whereby the gate thereof is retained in a tensioned state when in a closed position, but the latch construction is such that the gate may be quickly and easily opened and closed.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A latch assembly for gates, said latch assembly com prising an elongated support including a pair of elongated support members having closely spaced end portions and widely spaced central portions, a transverse shaft extending through and journaled in said central portion, a crank on said shaft externally of said support, a reel carried by said shaft intermediate said central portions, guide members mounted between said end portions at opposite ends of said support, a flexible latch member having a central portion entrained over said reel and intermediate portions entrained over said guide members.

2. A latch assembly for gates, said latch assembly comprising an elongated support including a pair of elongated support members having closely spaced end portions and widely spaced central portions, a transverse shaft extending through and journaled in said central portion, a crank on said shaft, externally of said support, a reel carried by said shaft intermediate said central portions, guide members mounted between said end portions at opposite ends of said support, a flexible latch member having a central portion entrained over said reel and intermediate portions entrained over said guide members, intermediate guide members for said flexible members extending be tween and connecting together said central portions.

3. A latch assembly for gates, said latch assembly comprising an elongated support including a pair of elongated support members having closely spaced end portions and widely spaced central portions, a transverse shaft extending through and journaled in said central portion, a crank on said shaft externally of said support, a reel carried by said shaft intermediate said central portions, guide members mounted between said end portions at opposite ends of said support, a flexible latch member having a central portion entrained over said reel and intermediate portions entrained over said guide members, said flexible member having a central part passing through said reel and said shaft to anchor said flexible member.

4. A latch assembly for gates, said latch assembly comprising an elongated support including a pair of elongated support members having closely spaced end portions and widely spaced central portions, a transverse shaft extending through and journaled in said central portion, a crank on said shaft externally of said support, a reel carried by said shaft intermediate said central poltions, guide members mounted between said end portions at opposite ends of said support, a flexible latch member having a central portion entrained over said reel and intermediate portions entrained over said guide members, and cam lock means on one of said central portions selectively engaged with said reel to lock the same against rotation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 475,867 Hult May 31, 1892 568,056 Vail, Jr Sept. 22, 1896 593,060 Staufler et al. Nov. 2, 1897 807,591 Batzler ec. 19, 1905 952,241 Eckhart et a1 Mar. 14, 1910 1,482,164 Sutton Jan. 29, 1924 2,129,569 DeLay Sept. 6, 1938 

